Shotgun advert attacked

BBC ^ | 20/2/2002 | ??

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

An advertisement with similarities to the case of farmer Tony Martin, who is serving a prison sentence after shooting two burglars, has been criticised by the industry watchdog. The advert, for a security system, appeared in Countryside magazine, showing a farmer holding a shotgun.

The drawing has the farmer smiling and giving a thumbs-up sign with the shotgun still smoking and cartridges in mid-ejection.

A member of the public who complained said it was "irresponsible" because it "condoned the use of a shotgun to protect private property".

Martin killed one burglar and injured another with a shotgun after they broke into his farmhouse at Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, in August 1999.

He was initially convicted of murder by a jury, but that conviction was reduced to manslaughter by the Court of Appeal last year.

The company behind the campaign is Maxtec Electronix, of Kneesall, Newark, Nottinghamshire.

It said the same advertisement had appeared in magazines targeted at the farming community for six years. It was part of a series reflecting vandalism and theft on farm yards, estates and at pheasant shoots, said the firm.

The cartoon character in the advert represented the client group in the farming community, it said, who are friendly, professional people, who "appreciated the dry humour of the cartoon".

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld the complaint, because it implied the farmer had fired the gun against intruders and therefore condoned the use of a shotgun.

The ASA said this was "irresponsible" and asked the advertisers to amend it with the help of the Committee of Advertising Practice Copy Advice team.

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

I find this interesting because I come from a rural area in Northern England where shotgun ownership is very common. Looks like we've come so far that it can't even be implied that a gun could be used to protect yourself or your property.

I'll bet the person who complained was some ponce from the South, London for a guess. Southerners!!

[GeronL]

"irresponsible" because it "condoned the use of a shotgun to protect private property".

I clicked when I saw that numbskull quote.

some people are just crazy

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

Such beliefs announce loudly and clearly that those who do not respect the lives and property of others will rule over those who do.

That sounds very logical and true.

I'm a bit of an old-fashioned girl and I'd expect my boyfriend/husband to be able to protect me in any way necessary. Mind you, when it comes down to it, I'm a fair shot myself! ;-)

[Gershom]

"irresponsible" because it "condoned the use of a shotgun to protect private property"

Unbelievable. Not that I'd wish it on anyone, but I'd like to see this guy's recation after someone breaks into his house. When it's his family's life that he's waiting for the police to protect, gun control might not seem like such a good idea.

[lavaroise]

"irresponsible" because it "condoned the use of a shotgun to protect private property".

Yeah, well, it is the same type of suicidal thinking that got us to believe that sex was so sacred it should not be impeded by the AIDS virus. However those people are explicitly denying now the role of man as a social guinea pig, deprived of responsibility to protect life and property.

[lavaroise]

Sorry, I meant:

However those people are explicitly IMPOSING now the role of man as a social guinea pig, deprived of responsibility to protect life and property, as just a lab rat for the government to promote its "perfect" "peaceful" society.

Dr. Mengele would have not been happier indeed.

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

I understood what you meant and I agree that it's comparable with a social experiment. If we are unable to protect our properties, then of course the bad guys will capitalise on it.

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

Thanks for the welcome, by the way and I will read the essay when I have some free time!

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

Thank you *blush*.

My first article post.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I always thought it was odd that even during the heyday of communism in Russia, shotgun ownership was legal. Are the lib gungrabbers trying to outdo them?

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

Oh no, shotguns are still legal, I own 2 myself (I like to do Clay shooting and the occasional grouse and pheasant).

The cartoon was banned purely on the grounds that it implied shotguns might be used to protect your property: I don't find anything wrong with that concept, nor would any of the folk in the isolated farms around my home town.

As I say, it was probably some soft southern nancy boy or girl that complained.

[Movemout]

The advertisement was for a security system. It seems to be a clever way of saying that you can't rely on the good old standby system, the farmer operated shotgun. It seems, even a cartoon drawing of a shotgun is alarming to the anti-gunners in merry olde England.

[KirklandJunction]

While shopping for a hat in a sporting goods shop in Bangor, Co Down, I asked about the plethora of air guns for sale.
That's how I learned about gun laws in N.I.
Kinda' sad, the wistful look in the gentleman's eyes when I told him what it was like here in Arizona.....Concealed Carry permits, pistol clubs, social range contests, a Christmas present from my Dad (Glock!), but I wish I hadn't been so effusive describing my favorite fun rifle, a lever action Winchester 30-30. I thought the guy was gonna' cry.
The bright side is I gave him my family address and phone, and I know it's a long shot, but I told him that if he or friends ever made it to Arizona I'd be glad to share several (several several) boxes of ammo with his choice of family guns.....he and my Grampa would probably spend a full day just with the Winchesters!
We can dream......but wouldn't that be a hoot?
Amy

[Tanya Featherstonehaugh]

Poor guy, I bet he was genuinely envious, hope he makes it over to your family range!

We can still shoot rifles in England, but only at strictly-controlled clubs and it can very difficult to get a firearms certificate in contrast to a shotgun licence, which isn't too bad.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Glad to see you and welcome aboard. Our gun grabbers don't mention getting rid of shotguns often, but they are on their list.

[FreedomPoster]

Excellent first post, and sad to see such things anywhere in the English-speaking world (or anywhere, but the English-speaking world particularly).

Nice pictures on the home page.

[KirklandJunction]

Come on over!
I know some folks up north, one guy who has access to left-over unsold products in a food market.......some times the poultry products are garbage, unfit for anything (although they really do try to get 'em to a charity in time).
Something about the way a day-old ready-to-serve chicken gets disassembled from the impact of your favorite cheap round (I prefer an old Winchester .45).
Organically correct, because the local varmints dine well after we leave.
Can't go to the same spot too often, because the smarter coyotes lurk around waiting to clean-up the area.
....something about this social activity really upsets city folks! Hee hee hee!
And you can imagine the reaction from my snooty law school associates!